Meek Statement in Support of the Responsible Redeployment from Iraq Act

Calls the White House Interim Report on Iraq Troubling; Repeats Call for a New Direction in Iraq

 

Washington, DC – Following the release of the Iraq Interim Report, Congressman Kendrick B. Meek issued the following statement in support of the Responsible Redeployment from Iraq Act, H.R. 2956, which passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 223 to 201.

"Despite the President’s best efforts, there is nothing rosy about today's Iraq Interim Report. It paints a bleak picture of the deteriorating security situation in Iraq, and further demonstrates that our brave American servicemen and women are refereeing a civil war which compromises national security interests.

"Democrats are united in calling for a new direction in Iraq, while the Republican Minority’s leadership continues to rubberstamp a failed White House policy that the American public rejects. The Republicans do-nothing, wait-and-see approach to the Iraq War is a strategy of failure. Democrats support a responsible redeployment of U.S. troops ending by April 1, 2008 to ensure the safety of our men and women in uniform, address our commitment to fighting terrorism, and reflect the will of the American people.

"The President's surge is not working; more than 3,600 U.S. troops have been killed in Iraq; the Iraqi government has failed to meet key benchmarks; political reconciliation in Iraq is non-existent; and readiness levels of the U.S. military are at an all time low.

"According to the non-partisan Congressional Research Service, the cost of the Iraq War continues to rise. The war costs $120 billion per year; $10 billion per month; $2.3 billion per week; $329 million per day; $14 million per hour; $229 thousand per minute; and $4 thousand per second. Funds and resources that are desperately needed at home are unavailable because of the skyrocketing costs of this war.

"The American public and the Democratic Majority believe that this war must end. When will President Bush and the Republican Minority agree?"

Congressman Kendrick B. Meek represents the 17th Congressional District, which includes parts of Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. He serves as the lone Floridian on the House Committee on Ways and Means, and also serves on the House Armed Services Committee.

-30-